Semi-Frozen Product Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A semi-frozen product dispenser ( 10  or  200 ) is provided for at least partially freezing and dispensing a product. The product dispenser may include at least one freezing barrel ( 20 - 1 ) defining a freezing chamber (C 1 ) configured to receive the product. A refrigeration system ( 60  or  260 ) is provided for at least partially freezing product in the freezing chamber (C 1 ). A fluid heating system ( 80  or  280 ) is also provided to remove heat from the refrigeration system ( 60  or  260 ) and use it in an auxiliary system, such as a water pre-heating system. The fluid heating system ( 80  or  280 ) may include a fluid heat exchanger ( 102 ) disposed in a high pressure refrigerant line ( 67  or  267 ), a fluid tank ( 82  or  282 ), and a fluid pump ( 96 ). Fluid may be continuously circulated through the fluid heat exchanger ( 102  or  302 ) when the refrigeration system is operated, thereby to continuously provide refrigerant cooling and fluid warming.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is an non-provisional US patent application claiming priority under35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/252,828 filed on Oct. 19, 2009.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to refrigeration systems and,more particularly, to apparatus for freezing and dispensing semi-frozenproducts.

2. Description of the Related Art

Semi-frozen product dispensers employ refrigeration systems to freezethe product dispensed thereby. By way of background, a refrigerationsystem uses a refrigeration cycle which is employed in refrigerators,heat pumps and air conditioners. The refrigeration system becomes a heatpump when it is used to produce a heat flow into or out of a building.When it causes a heat flow out of the building it is then also called anair conditioner. As shown in the background diagram of FIG. 1, arefrigeration system includes a condenser 2, a throttling or expansionvalve 4, an evaporator 6 and a compressor 5. The refrigerant flows ineither a gaseous or liquid state (sometimes a mixture of the two) by wayof lines or piping, the direction of the flow being as indicated by thearrows 8. In the refrigeration cycle, schematically illustrated in FIG.2 the saturated liquid refrigerant passes through a throttling orexpansion valve 4 and the liquid expands into a gas with some entrainedliquid as shown at “b”. The gas, with a mixture of liquid, passesthrough the evaporator 6 which, in the case of a refrigerator, allowsheat to be removed from food stuffs and the like and transferred to thegas, liquid mixture. The amount of heat or energy removed from the foodstuff is represented by the line bd. As the gas, liquid mixture picks upheat it expands and the volume increases. The gas is then compressed bythe compressor 5 as illustrated in line de in FIGS. 1 and 2, and thenpassed through a condenser 2 which gives off heat as the volume of thegas decreases and the pressure remains substantially constant. Theenergy of compression is represented by the line de projected onto theenthalpy axis. In the refrigeration cycle, as the gas is compressed fromd to e, the gas increases in pressure with a decrease in volume.Refrigeration systems and heat pumps may be rated based on thecoefficient of performance (COP). The COP is defined as the ratio ofdesired output divided by the required input. The COP is a measure ofhow well a refrigeration system or heat pump is operating. If thedesired output is cooling, then:

COP_(cooling)=enthalpy change at evaporator/enthalpy change at thecompressor

For the following equations, h represents enthalpy and the letterfollowing h represents the refrigerant state on FIG. 2.

COP_(cooling)=(hd−hb)/(he−hd)

If the desired output is heating, then:

COP_(heating)=enthalpy change at condenser/enthalpy change at compressor

COP_(heating)=(he−ha)/(he−hd)

If the desired output is both cooling and heating, then:

COP_(cooling and heating)=(hd−hb+he−ha)/(he−hd)

It can be seen that the highest COP may be obtained from theCOP_(cooling and heating) equation.

Semi-frozen product dispensers may dispense various types of foodstuffs, such as soft-service ice cream, yogurt, custard and othersemi-frozen food products, as well as semi-frozen drinks, sometimesreferred to as slushes. The dispensers typically include a freezingcylinder through which the product is dispensed. The freezing cylinder,also referred to as a barrel, defines a longitudinally elongatedfreezing chamber. Typically, unfrozen liquid product mix is added to thefreezing chamber at the aft end of the freezing cylinder and selectivelydispensed at the forward end of the freezing cylinder through a manuallyoperated dispensing valve. A rotating beater, typically formed by two ormore helical blades driven by a drive motor at a desired rotationalspeed, scrapes semi-frozen mixture from the inner wall of the freezingcylinder and moves the product forwardly through the freezing chamberdefined within the freezing cylinder as the product transitions from aliquid state to a semi-frozen state. The product within the freezingchamber changes from a liquid state to a semi-frozen state as heat istransferred from the product to a refrigerant flowing through anevaporator disposed about the freezing cylinder. The evaporator isoperatively associated with and part of a conventional refrigerationsystem that also includes a compression device and a refrigerantcondenser arranged in a conventional refrigerant cycle in a closedrefrigerant circuit. Dispensing apparatus of this type may have a singlefreezing cylinder for dispensing a single flavor of product or aplurality of freezing cylinders, each housing a selected flavor ofproduct, for dispensing each of the selected flavors and even a mix offlavors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,129, for example, discloses a semi-frozenfood dispensing apparatus having a pair of freezing chambers.

As noted previously, heat is removed from the product within thefreezing cylinder and carried away by a refrigerant circulating throughan evaporator disposed about the freezing cylinder. In dispensingapparatus having more than one freezing cylinder, an evaporator istypically configured either as a tube wound around and in contact withthe outside wall of the freezing cylinder or as an annular chamber frombetween the outside wall of the freezing cylinder and the inside wall ofan outer cylinder disposed coaxially about the freezing cylinder.

Refrigerant exits the condenser primarily as vapor. The vapor is drawnthrough a compressor, which elevates both the temperature and pressureof the refrigerant vapor. An air heat exchanger, in combination with anair mover, is typically provided to cool the refrigerant vapor. Thisconventional arrangement, however, discharges heated air into thesurrounding environment, thereby increases the load on any interiorspace HVAC system. Depending on the temperature of the vaporrefrigerant, operation of the air heat exchanger may be excessive,thereby reducing the energy efficiency of the dispenser. Still further,the heated air is typically treated as a waste by-product that is simplydischarged into the interior space.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a semi-frozen productdispenser is provided for at least partially freezing and dispensing aproduct. The dispenser may include at least one freezing barrel defininga freezing chamber configured to receive the product, an evaporatoroperably coupled to the freezing barrel and including a refrigerantinlet and a refrigerant outlet, and a compressor having a suction inletin fluid communication with the evaporator outlet through a low pressurerefrigerant line and a discharge outlet. A high pressure refrigerantline may extend between the compressor discharge outlet and theevaporator refrigerant inlet, and an air heat exchanger may beoperatively coupled to a portion of the high pressure refrigerant line.A fluid tank may be sized to hold a predetermined volume of fluid, and afluid heat exchanger fluidly communicates with the high pressurerefrigerant line to receive heated refrigerant and is configured totransfer heat from the heated refrigerant to the volume of fluid in thefluid tank.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a semi-frozenproduct dispenser is disposed in an interior space for at leastpartially freezing and dispensing a product. The dispenser may includeat least one freezing barrel defining a freezing chamber configured toreceive the product. A refrigeration system may be provided thatincludes an evaporator operably coupled to the freezing barrel, arefrigerant inlet, and a refrigerant outlet. The refrigeration systemmay further include a compressor having a suction inlet in fluidcommunication with the evaporator outlet through a low pressurerefrigerant line and a discharge outlet, a high pressure refrigerantline extending between the compressor discharge outlet and theevaporator refrigerant inlet, and an air heat exchanger operativelycoupled to a portion of the high pressure refrigerant line. Thedispenser may further include a water heating system having a fluid tanksized to hold a predetermined volume of fluid, and a fluid heatexchanger fluidly communicating with the high pressure refrigerant lineto receive heated refrigerant and configured to transfer heat from theheated refrigerant to the volume of fluid in the fluid tank.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a semi-frozenproduct dispenser is disposed in an interior space for at leastpartially freezing and dispensing a product. The dispenser may includean enclosure defining a housing space, and at least one freezing barreldisposed within the housing space and defining a freezing chamberconfigured to receive the product. An evaporator is disposed within thehousing space, operably coupled to the freezing barrel, and includes arefrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. A compressor is disposedwithin the housing space and has a suction inlet in fluid communicationwith the evaporator outlet through a low pressure refrigerant line and adischarge outlet. A high pressure refrigerant line is disposed withinthe housing space and extends between the compressor discharge outletand the evaporator refrigerant inlet, and an air heat exchanger isdisposed within the housing space and operatively coupled to a portionof the high pressure refrigerant line, the air heat exchangerdischarging heated air into the interior space. A fluid heat exchangeris disposed in the high pressure refrigerant line and defines arefrigerant path and a fluid path, the fluid heat exchanger beingconfigured to transfer heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path tofluid in the fluid path. The dispenser may further include a fluid tanksized to hold a predetermined volume of fluid, the tank including a tankinlet fluidly communicating with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path anda tank outlet, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet in fluidcommunication with the tank outlet and a pump outlet in fluidcommunication with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path.

These are other aspects and features of the disclosure will become moreapparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a typical, idealized, closed cyclerefrigeration system;

FIG. 2 is a pressure enthalpy diagram which indicates, for backgroundpurposes, the pressure enthalpy relationship of a refrigerant in therefrigeration system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of asemi-frozen product dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the semi-frozen product dispenserhaving an auxiliary fluid cycle constructed according to the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of asemi-frozen product dispenser having an auxiliary fluid cycleconstructed according to the present disclosure.

While the present disclosure is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof willbe shown and described below in detail. It should be understood,however, that there is no intention to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to coverall modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, and with particular reference to FIGS. 3and 4, a semi-frozen product dispenser constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the disclosure is generally referred to by referencenumeral 10. The dispenser 10 is capable of freezing and dispensingsemi-frozen food products, such as by way of example, but not limitedto, soft-serve ice cream, ice milk, yogurt, custard, shakes, andcarbonated and/or non-carbonated ice slush drinks. While the followingdetailed description and drawings are made in reference to a semi-frozenproduct dispenser, it is to be understood that the teachings of thedisclosure can be used in other types of refrigeration systems,including, but not limited to, cooled beverage dispensers,refrigerators, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser 10 is disposed inside aninterior space 12 and includes two freezing chambers C1 and C2 fordispensing food products of different flavors or types. The freezingchambers C1 and C2 are defined within the axially elongated cylindricalbarrels 20-1 and 20-2, respectively. Although shown as a dual barreldispenser, it is to be understood that the apparatus 10 may have only asingle barrel for dispensing a single product or may have three or morebarrels for dispensing a plurality of flavors or types of products. Eachof the barrels 20-1, 20-2 includes an inner cylinder 30, an outercylinder 40 circumscribing the inner cylinder 30, and an evaporator 50formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder 40. Refrigerantis supplied from a refrigeration system 60 to the evaporators 50 of therespective barrels 20-1, 20-2 for refrigerating product residing insidethe respective freezing chambers C1 and C2.

A beater 22 is coaxially disposed and mounted for rotation within eachof the chambers C1 and C2. Each beater 22 is driven by a drive motor 23to rotate about the axis of its respective barrel 20-1, 20-2. In theembodiment of FIG. 3, a single drive motor (when energized) drives eachof the beaters 22 in rotation about the axis of its respective barrel20-1, 20-2. It should be understood, however, that each beater 22 may bedriven by a dedicated motor. Respective product supplies 24 areoperatively associated with the barrels 20-1, 20-2 for supply product tobe frozen to the respective chamber C1 and C2 with which the productsupply is associated. The apparatus 10 is also equipped with adispensing valve system 11 that is selectively operable to dispense thesemi-frozen product from the barrels 20-1, 20-2.

The refrigeration system 60 includes a single refrigerant vaporcompressor 62 driven by a compressor motor 65 operatively associatedwith the compressor 62, and a condenser 64 connected with theevaporators 50 in a refrigerant circuit. The compressor 62 is connectedin refrigerant flow communication by high pressure outlet line 61connected to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser 64, and therefrigeration outlet of the condenser 64 is connected through a highpressure refrigerant supply line 63 to refrigerant flow control valves66. Each refrigerant flow control valve 66 is operatively associatedwith a respective one of the evaporators 50 by a refrigerant line 67. Arespective refrigerant outlet of each evaporator 50 is connected througha low pressure refrigerant return line 69 and an accumulator 68 to thesuction side of the compressor 62 through line 27. The refrigerant flowcontrol valves 66 may comprise, for example, on/off solenoid valves ofthe type which can be rapidly cycled between open and closed positions.The valves 66 may be pulse width modulated solenoid valves, electronicmotor operated valves, automatic expansion valves, or similarrestriction devices.

Different products have different thermal heat transfer rates anddifferent freezing points. Therefore, operation of the refrigerationsystem 60 will vary depending upon the products being supplied to thefreezing chambers C1 and C2. A control system 70 may control operationof the refrigeration system 60 by controlling operation of thecompressor drive motor 65, the beater motor 23, and the flow controlvalves 66. The control system 70 includes a programmable controller 72having a central processing unit with associated memory and temperaturesensors for sensing the temperature of the product within the chambersC1 and C2. For a more thorough discussion of the design and operation ofan exemplary control system 70, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No.5,205,129, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In the depicted embodiment, each barrel 20 is equipped with aselectively operable dispensing valve 11 disposed at the forward end ofthe barrel 20 for receiving product form the freezing chamber. Thedispensing valve system, however, may include a third dispensing valveselectively operable to dispense a mix of the two flavors or types ofproducts present in the mixing chambers C1 and C2. The dispensing valvesystem may also comprise a single selectively operable valve that isselectively positionable in a first position to dispense product fromchamber C1 only, a second position to dispense product from chamber C2only, and a third position to dispense a mix of the products from bothchambers C1 and C2.

Briefly, in operation, product to be frozen is supplied to each of thechambers C1 and C2 from the respective product supply 24 associatedtherewith from a supply tube 27 opening into the chamber at the aft endof each barrel 20-1, 20-2. The product supplies 24 are arranged to feedas required a liquid comestible product mix and generally, but notalways, an edible gas, such as for example air, nitrogen, carbondioxide, or mixtures thereof, in proportions to provide a semi-frozenfood product having the desired consistency. The liquid comestibleproduct mix may be refrigerated by suitable apparatus (not shown) topre-cool the product mix to a preselected temperature above the freezingtemperature of the product mix prior to delivery to the chambers C1 andC2. Each beater 22 rotates within its respective chamber C1, C2 to churnthe product mix resident within the chamber and also move the productmix to the forward end of the chamber for delivery to the dispensingvalve 11. The blades of the beaters 22 may also be designed to passalong the inner surface of the inner cylinder 30 as the beater rotates,thereby to scrape product from the inner surface of the inner cylinder30. As the product mix churns within the chambers C1 and C2, it ischilled to the freezing point temperature to produce a semi-frozenproduct ready on-demand for dispensing. If gas is added to the productmix, the gas is thoroughly and uniformly dispersed throughout theproduct mix as the beaters rotate.

A simplified schematic of the refrigeration system 60 coupled to onefreezing chamber C1 is shown in FIG. 4. The evaporator 50 is showndisposed around the freezing chamber C1. The low pressure line 69connects the suction inlet of the compressor 62 to the outlet of theevaporator 50. The high pressure line 67 connects the compressor outletto the inlet of the evaporator 50. The condenser 64, which is shown asan air heat exchanger, is disposed in the high pressure line 67. Anoptional suction heat exchanger 74 is shown having a first line 76 influid communication with the high pressure line 67 and a second line 78in fluid communication with the low pressure line 69. The first andsecond lines 76, 78 may be configured so that heat is transferred fromthe first line 76 to the second line 78, thereby to cool the refrigeranttraveling through the high pressure line 67.

A fluid heating system 80 for heating a fluid, such as water, is alsoillustrated in FIG. 4. The fluid heating system 80 may be provided forpre-heating water for use in an auxiliary system used at the facility.For example, pre-heated water may be provided to a water heater whichmay then be used as needed on site. Alternatively, the pre-heated watermay be used directly in other auxiliary systems, such as coffee makers,washing machines, or other equipment.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the fluid heating system 80 may include a fluidtank 82 for holding a reservoir of fluid. The water tank may include acold water inlet 84 fluidly communicating with a water source 86provided to the facility, a cold water outlet 88, a warm water inlet 90,and a warm water outlet 92 fluidly communicating with the auxiliarysystem, such as a water heater 94. The tank 82 may be formed of anymaterial suitable for handling fluid, such as water, at a temperature ofapproximately 32-140 degrees F. (0-60 degrees C.). While the tank 82 maybe sized to handle substantially any volume, it is expected that a tankvolume of approximately 15-40 gallons (57-151 liters) should besufficiently for most applications.

The fluid heating system 80 may also include a pump 96 for circulatingfluid through the system. In the illustrated embodiment, the pump 96 hasan inlet 98 fluidly communicating with the tank cold water outlet 88 andan outlet 100. While any known pump suitable for circulating fluid maybe used, the pump 96 may be configured and/or rated for use in a potablewater system.

The fluid heating system 80 may further include a fluid heat exchanger102 for transferring heat from the refrigeration system 60 to fluid inthe heating system 80. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid heatexchanger 102 includes a fluid path 101 having a fluid inlet 104 influid communication with the pump outlet 100 and a fluid outlet 106 influid communication with the tank warm water inlet 90. The fluid heatexchanger 102 may further include a refrigerant path 107 having arefrigerant inlet 110 and a refrigerant outlet 108, both of which mayfluidly communicate with the high pressure line 67 of the refrigerationsystem 60. The fluid heat exchanger 102 may be configured to transferheat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path 107 to fluid in the fluidpath 101, thereby to preheat the water while simultaneously cooling therefrigerant. In certain applications, the fluid heat exchanger 102 maybe configured and/or sized to heat water flowing therethrough by atleast approximately 10 degrees. The pre-heated water then flows from thefluid heat exchanger 102 to the tank 82.

While the pump 96 is shown in FIG. 4 as located upstream of the fluidheat exchanger 102, it may be located in other positions. For example,the pump 102 may be positioned downstream of the fluid heat exchanger102, as illustrated by pump 96 a shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4.

An optional temperature sensor 112 may be provided with the tank 82 toprovide temperature feedback regarding the fluid in the tank 82. Incertain embodiments, the temperature sensor 112 and pump 96 may beoperatively coupled to the controller 72 (FIG. 3). The controller 72 maybe programmed to operate the pump 96 based on the temperature feedbackfrom the sensor 112 and its relation to a predetermined set point.Alternatively, the controller 72 may be programmed to operate the pump96 whenever the compressor 62 is operated, thereby to cool therefrigerant whenever the refrigeration system 60 is operated.

The location of the fluid heat exchanger 102 may enhance operation ofboth the refrigeration system 60 and the heating system 80, and may beselected based on a user's desired objectives. With the fluid heatexchanger 102 positioned upstream of the air heat exchanger 64, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the water may be heated to a higher temperaturewhile cooling of the refrigerant may be limited by the capacity of thedownstream air heat exchanger 64. The pre-cooling of refrigerant maylead to energy savings in the refrigeration system 60 because the airheat exchanger 64 may operate less frequently or at lower speeds.Reduced operation of the air heat exchanger 64 will also reduce theamount of heat discharged into the interior space, thereby reducing theheating load on any HVAC system provided for that interior space.Alternatively, if the fluid heat exchanger is positioned downstream ofthe air heat exchanger 64 (as shown by heat exchanger 102 a drawn inphantom lines in FIG. 3), the refrigerant may be cooled to a lowertemperature while less heat may be available for transfer to the waterin the fluid heating system 80.

The fluid heating system 80 may be integrally housed with therefrigeration system 60, such as for new equipment, or it may beprovided in modular form for retrofit applications. As schematicallyshown in FIG. 4, the compressor 62, evaporator 50, air heat exchanger64, freezing barrel C1, and other refrigeration system components aredisposed in an enclosure 120. The fluid heat exchanger 102, fluid tank82, fluid pump 96, and other heating system components are shown asdisposed an enclosure 122. In certain embodiments, the enclosures 120,122 are integrally provided. In other embodiments, such as retro-fitapplications, the enclosure 120 may be pre-existing at the facility, inwhich case the enclosure 122 enclosing the heating system components isprovided as an auxiliary enclosure, and the appropriate fittings forconnecting the heating system 80 to the refrigeration system 60 may beprovided.

An alternative semi-frozen product dispenser 200 is illustrated in FIG.5. The dispenser 200 is nearly identical to the dispenser 10 describedabove, except for a fluid heat exchanger 302 being disposed in a fluidtank 282, as described more fully below. Accordingly, similar referencenumerals have been used to identify the various components of thedispenser 200, including a compressor 262, an evaporator 250, an airheat exchanger 264, an optional suction heat exchanger 274, and afreezing barrel C1.

As briefly noted above, the fluid heat exchanger 302 is disposed withinthe fluid tank 282, thereby to directly transfer heat from the heatedrefrigerant to the fluid in the tank 282. The fluid heat exchanger 302may include a refrigerant line forming a heat exchange section 330 influid communication with the high pressure refrigerant line 267. Theheat exchange section 330 is disposed in heat transfer relationship withthe fluid in the tank 282, such as by being submersed in the fluid. Thetank 282 may include a cold water inlet 284 fluidly communicating with acold water source 286 and a warm water outlet 292 fluidly communicatingwith an auxiliary system, such as a water heater 294. This alternativeembodiment does not require a pump to circulate fluid from the fluidheat exchanger 302 to the tank 282, and therefore it has been omitted.The heat exchange section 330 may be oriented to create a counterflowarrangement in which hot refrigerant enters a top of the tank 282 thoughinlet 290 while cooled and at least partially condensed refrigerantexits a bottom of the tank 282 through outlet 288. The dispenser 200 mayoperate in a manner similar to dispenser 10 described above.

It is to be understood that while the foregoing description has beengiven with reference to a semi-frozen product dispenser, the teachingsof this disclosure can be used in conjunction with other types ofrefrigeration systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art toremove heat from the high pressure side of the refrigeration system andadd heat to a water tank provided on the premises associated with therefrigeration system, thereby to improve the energy efficiency of therefrigeration system as well as the energy requirements of thesurrounding environment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Based on the foregoing, it can be seen that the present disclosure setsforth a dispenser for flowable products, such as but not limited to,milkshakes. The teachings of this disclosure can be employed to usewaste heat from a refrigeration system in an auxiliary process to heat afluid such as water. Such an arrangement may decrease operation of anair heat exchanger, thereby lowering the energy cost for operating thedispenser. Additionally, reduced air heat exchanger operation willreduce the amount of heat discharged into the interior space in whichthe dispenser is disposed, thereby lowering the heat load on the HVACsystem provided with the interior space. Still further, energy costsassociated with the auxiliary system, such as a water heater, arereduced due to the pre-heating of the water.

While only certain embodiments have been set forth, alternatives andmodifications will be apparent from the above description to thoseskilled in the art. These and other alternatives are consideredequivalents and within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and theappended claims.

1. A semi-frozen product dispenser (10 or 200) for at least partiallyfreezing and dispensing a product, comprising: at least one freezingbarrel (20-1) defining a freezing chamber (C1) configured to receive theproduct; an evaporator (50 or 250) operably coupled to the freezingbarrel (20-1) and including a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerantoutlet; a compressor (62 or 262) having a suction inlet in fluidcommunication with the evaporator outlet through a low pressurerefrigerant line (69 or 269) and a discharge outlet; a high pressurerefrigerant line (67 or 267) extending between the compressor dischargeoutlet and the evaporator refrigerant inlet; an air heat exchanger (64or 264) operatively coupled to a portion of the high pressurerefrigerant line (67 or 267); a fluid tank (82 or 282) sized to hold apredetermined volume of fluid; and a fluid heat exchanger (102 or 302)fluidly communicating with the high pressure refrigerant line (67 or267) to receive heated refrigerant and configured to transfer heat fromthe heated refrigerant to the volume of fluid in the fluid tank (82 or282).
 2. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 1, in which thefluid heat exchanger (102) defines a refrigerant path and a fluid pathand is configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant in therefrigerant path to fluid in the fluid path, and the fluid tank (82)includes a cold water inlet (84), a cold water outlet (88), a warm waterinlet (90) fluidly communicating with the fluid heat exchanger fluidpath, and a warm water outlet (92).
 3. The semi-frozen product dispenser(10) of claim 2, further comprising a fluid pump (96) having a pumpinlet (98) in fluid communication with the cold water outlet (88) and apump outlet (100) in fluid communication with the fluid heat exchangerfluid path.
 4. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 3,further comprising a temperature sensor (112) disposed in sensingrelationship to an interior of the tank (82) and operably coupled to thepump (96).
 5. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 3, furthercomprising a controller (72) operably coupled to the compressor (62) andthe fluid pump (98), the controller (72) being programmed to operate thefluid pump (98) whenever the compressor (62) is operated.
 6. Thesemi-frozen product dispenser (200) of claim 1, in which the fluid heatexchanger (302) is disposed in the fluid tank (282) thereby to directlytransfer heat from the refrigerant to the fluid in the fluid tank (282).7. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10 or 200) of claim 1, in whichthe fluid heat exchanger (102 or 302) is disposed upstream of the airheat exchanger (64 or 264).
 8. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10 or200) of claim 1, in which the dispenser (10 or 200) is disposed in aninterior space (12), and in which the air heat exchanger (64 or 264)discharges heated air into the interior space (12).
 9. The semi-frozenproduct dispenser (10 or 200) of claim 1, further comprising a suctionheat exchanger (74 or 274) having a first line (76 or 276) in fluidcommunication with the high pressure refrigerant line (67 or 267) and asecond line (78 or 278) in fluid communication with the low pressurerefrigerant line (69 or 269), wherein the first and second lines (76, 78or 276, 278) are disposed in heat transfer relationship with each otherthereby to transfer heat from the high pressure refrigerant line (67 or267) to the low pressure refrigerant line (69 or 269).
 10. A semi-frozenproduct dispenser (10 or 200) disposed in an interior space (12) for atleast partially freezing and dispensing a product, comprising: at leastone freezing barrel (20-1) defining a freezing chamber (C1) configuredto receive the product; a refrigeration system (60 or 260) including: anevaporator (50 or 250) operably coupled to the freezing barrel (20-1)and including a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet; a compressor(62 or 262) having a suction inlet in fluid communication with theevaporator outlet through a low pressure refrigerant line (69 or 269)and a discharge outlet; a high pressure refrigerant line (67 or 267)extending between the compressor discharge outlet and the evaporatorrefrigerant inlet; and an air heat exchanger (64 or 264) operativelycoupled to a portion of the high pressure refrigerant line (67 or 267);and a water heating system (80 or 280) including: a fluid tank (82 or282) sized to hold a predetermined volume of fluid; and a fluid heatexchanger (102 or 302) fluidly communicating with the high pressurerefrigerant line (67 or 267) to receive heated refrigerant andconfigured to transfer heat from the heated refrigerant to the volume offluid in the fluid tank (82 or 282).
 11. The semi-frozen productdispenser (10) of claim 10, in which the fluid heat exchanger (102)defines a refrigerant path and a fluid path and is configured totransfer heat from the refrigerant in the refrigerant path to fluid inthe fluid path, and the fluid tank (82) includes a cold water inlet(84), a cold water outlet (88), a warm water inlet (90) fluidlycommunicating with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path, and a warm wateroutlet (92).
 12. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 11,further comprising a fluid pump (96) having a pump inlet (98) in fluidcommunication with the cold water outlet (88) and a pump outlet (100) influid communication with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path.
 13. Thesemi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 12, further comprising atemperature sensor (112) disposed in sensing relationship to an interiorof the tank (82) and operably coupled to the pump (96).
 14. Thesemi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 12, further comprising acontroller (72) operably coupled to the compressor (62) and the fluidpump (98), the controller (72) being programmed to operate the fluidpump (98) whenever the compressor (62) is operated.
 15. The semi-frozenproduct dispenser (200) of claim 10, in which the fluid heat exchanger(302) is disposed in the fluid tank (282) thereby to directly transferheat from the refrigerant to the fluid in the fluid tank (282).
 16. Thesemi-frozen product dispenser (10 or 200) of claim 10, in which thefluid heat exchanger (102 or 302) is disposed upstream of the air heatexchanger (64 or 264).
 17. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10 or 200)of claim 10, further comprising a suction heat exchanger (74 or 274)having a first line (76 or 276) in fluid communication with the highpressure refrigerant line (67 or 267) and a second line (78 or 278) influid communication with the low pressure refrigerant line (69 or 269),wherein the first and second lines (76, 78 or 276, 278) are disposed inheat transfer relationship with each other thereby to transfer heat fromthe high pressure refrigerant line (67 or 267) to the low pressurerefrigerant line (69 or 269).
 18. A semi-frozen product dispenser (10)disposed in an interior space (12) for at least partially freezing anddispensing a product, comprising: an enclosure (120) defining a housingspace; at least one freezing barrel (20-1) disposed within the housingspace and defining a freezing chamber (C1) configured to receive theproduct; an evaporator (50) disposed within the housing space, operablycoupled to the freezing barrel (20-1), and including a refrigerant inletand a refrigerant outlet; a compressor (62) disposed within the housingspace, the compressor (62) having a suction inlet in fluid communicationwith the evaporator outlet through a low pressure refrigerant line (69)and a discharge outlet; a high pressure refrigerant line (67) disposedwithin the housing space and extending between the compressor dischargeoutlet and the evaporator refrigerant inlet; an air heat exchanger (64)disposed within the housing space and operatively coupled to a portionof the high pressure refrigerant line (67), the air heat exchanger (64)discharging heated air into the interior space (12); a fluid heatexchanger (102) disposed in the high pressure refrigerant line (67) anddefining a refrigerant path and a fluid path, the fluid heat exchanger(102) being configured to transfer heat from refrigerant in therefrigerant path to fluid in the fluid path; a fluid tank (82) sized tohold a predetermined volume of water, the tank (82) including a coldwater inlet (84), a cold water outlet (88), a warm water inlet (90)fluidly communicating with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path and awarm water outlet (92); and a fluid pump (96) having a pump inlet (98)in fluid communication with the cold water outlet (88) and a pump outlet(100) in fluid communication with the fluid heat exchanger fluid path.19. The semi-frozen product dispenser (10) of claim 19, in which thefluid heat exchanger (102), fluid tank (82), and fluid pump (96) arealso disposed within the housing space.